Some assorted ramblings and occasional thoughts from Talib al-Habib. Updated randomly and irregularly (if at all). Talib takes no responsiblity for anything that he may write, as responsiblity implies capacity, and capacity implies a sound mind...

Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Reponses to the Pope

salams

Three responses to Pope Benedict, pointing out the fallacies of his lamentable speech.

The first, courtesy of Islamica, is a telling response to the Pope by 40 of the most prominent traditional ulama of our time. It is a concise but excellent analysis of several extremely important concepts in Islam, some of which are particularly relevent to our troubled times. Quite apart from its content, its beautiful adab, eloquent style and penetrating wisdom illustrates the Prophetic (s) manner of discourse with non-Muslims, as well as the central qualities of 'returning evil with good,' and 'inviting with wisdom and beautiful preaching.'

Lastly, a more philosophically inclined, point-by-point analysis by Aref Ali Nayed. This article additionally illustrates the Pope's inclination towards an exclusivist Euro-Centric, Hellenized Christianity seemingly defined by its opposition to everything non-European (and therefore irratonal?). This appears to be the Catholic / European version of the self-aggrandizing Americus Imperius model of Evangelist Christianity currently being courted by the Bush Administration. The former sees the way of Jesus Christ as referring exclusively to European norms; the latter binds it inextricably with America's Star-Spangled Banner. Courtesy of www.masud.co.uk

What a pity that nuanced, intelligent and well-grounded responses such as these do not find their way into the mainstream media, whilst the slatherings of Ayman al-Zawahiri and co make front-page headlines! La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah!